TPS Wants To Create 'Teacher Town' With Vision Funds

Tulsa Public Schools has submitted a new Vision proposal to establish subsidized housing and offer advanced training for new teachers. 

The goal would be to recruit new candidates and better prepare those who are hired for TPS.

The housing plan has the working title of “Teacher Town” and is described as a complex of affordable “micro-lofts”.

The plan would involve renovating a closed DHS shelter in the Pearl District, at an estimated cost of $7.5 million dollars. An outside group would be hired to manage the property, which is now owned by the City of Tulsa.

The proposal, reviewed Thursday morning by the City Council, notes the goal is to offer “additional incentives that can entice teachers to work in schools located within Tulsa city limits.”

Read the proposal here.

Several city councilors visited the site this week to review with the project, which Councilor G.T. Bynum said has considerable interest from the philanthropic community. One possibility that emerged from the discussion is that it could be utilized for Teach for America recruits.

The new proposal will be discussed Friday during a meeting to establish which projects will be included in the next Vision package.